3.8L questions

Any chance you have a restricted exhaust system? Years ago I had a Datsun

208Z. It got so it would not pull the redline in first gear. Even though the outside of the muffler and pipes looked good, I was suspicious that there was an exhaust system restriction. I disconnected the exhaust pipe at the header and the car's former power was restored. A new exhaust system rectified everything.

If no one reset the codes, then it will take a while for the light to go off by itself. You can disconnect the battery for about 5 minutes to reset the light, but it will also reset all the parameters the computer has leaned. If you are not in a hurry just give it a few days for the light to reset itself. If the light was supposedly reset, then you should have the codes checked again.

Regards,

Ed White

Need more info... any difference, hot/cold?

When the car is accelerating does it sound like a vaccuum cleaner at the tailpipe?

On idle, can you distinguish individual exhaust beats at tailpipe?

Long Shot, but sounds like plugged cats to me. All gas is the same, right?!! yeah, sure. STF AWAY from little corner mom/pop store pumps!

And I'm betting that the check engine lite will turn out to be related to DPFE when you read the code out.. (autozone)

GLubester wrote in news:1_631126 snipped-for-privacy@autoforumz.com:

"GLubester" wrote: > Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and i have a couple > questions. I own a 1995 T-bird with the 3.8L. My car does > lack power, but i didnt expect a ton of power from it. But is > it common for these motors to lose a ton of power above 2500 > RPMs? My car will barely accelerate from 2500 RPMs up, even > in first gear. I don't know if there is a problem or not. > > Also my check engine light comes on periodically and goes back > off. I took it to Advance Auto Parts to have the codes > checked out. It said bad O2 sensor on bank 1. So i replaced > the O2 sensor on the right side of the motor (this is bank 1, > right?) but the check engine light is still on. I haven't had > time to get this checked out again for new codes. Any ideas > on BOTH subjects would be greatly appreciated. > > Many thanks in advance.

I just got back from Advanced Auto Parts to get the new codes read. 3 codes showed up:

181-Adaptive Fuel rich limit reached at part throttle, system lean, right side 186-Injector Pulse-width higher than expected 189-Adaptive Fuel rich limit reached at part throttle, system lean, left side

This pretty much explains why my car doesnt have any power above 2500 RPMs. What are some possible causes to this problem and what are some possible solutions? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

Leaking intake manifold gaskets is a possibility. A bad MAF sensor is another. A dirty MAF sensor is another. Cleaning the MAF wires would be my first try.

Ed

How about checking fuel pressure?

C.E.White,

Thanks for the reply. My car is bone stock so it has the origional exhaust system in it. I don?t think it is the exhaust system since I had new codes show up when i took my car in today to get the codes read again but I can?t rule that out either since I haven?t checked it out.

According to the codes, it sounds like my car is running lean when i get up on the RPMs, but i have no idea what the Injector Pulse-width is or how that can be corrected. Ideas?

Thanks

The injector pulse width is the time the injector is on. The computer adjusts it to obtain the correct air/fuel ratio. In your case it went as far as possible and the mixture was still lean. Look for gross vacuum leak or (more likely) insufficient fuel pressure. Could be as simple as clogged fuel filter.

Yep, I smell low fuel pressure. The engine is running lean on both banks and the PCM can't richen it up any more (adaptive limit). Although if the loss of power is "smooth" with no misfire, I've seen a contaminated MAF do this, usually on 4.6 T-birds though. Never saw it on a 3.8 but, that don't mean it can't happen. First step would likely be a fuel filter, especially if you frequently visit the "mom and pop" stations mentioned earlier. The filter is often overlooked during normal DIY maintenence and a 9 year old original could be pretty restricted.

"" wrote: > Happy Traveler wrote: > > How about checking fuel pressure? > > > > > Yep, I smell low fuel pressure. The engine is running lean > on both banks and the PCM > can't richen it up any more (adaptive limit). Although if the > loss of power is > "smooth" with no misfire, I've seen a contaminated MAF do > this, usually on 4.6 T-birds > though. Never saw it on a 3.8 but, that don't mean it can't > happen. > First step would likely be a fuel filter, especially if you > frequently visit the > "mom and pop" stations mentioned earlier. The filter is often > overlooked during normal > DIY maintenence and a 9 year old original could be pretty > restricted.

Thanks for the replies everyone. When my head gasket went (yes, I had the dreaded head gasket dilemma), I thought my dad told me that he had the mechanic replace the fuel filter, which is why I never thought of it as a possibility. However, he told me last night that it was the oil filter he replaced twice to get all of the antifreeze out. So, the fuel filter is definitely step one in trying to fix my car.

Tom Adkins, my car will hesitate on the low RPMs when it is cold but after holding the s throttle steady, it will take off. There is no misfiring at all when the engine is warm.

So I will change the fuel filter and clean the MAF sensor. I?ll report back with the outcome.

"GLubester" wrote: > Thanks for the replies everyone. When my head gasket went > (yes, I had the dreaded head gasket dilemma), I thought my dad > told me that he had the mechanic replace the fuel filter, > which is why I never thought of it as a possibility. However, > he told me last night that it was the oil filter he replaced > twice to get all of the antifreeze out. So, the fuel filter > is definitely step one in trying to fix my car. > > Tom Adkins, my car will hesitate on the low RPMs when it is > cold but after holding the s throttle steady, it will take > off. There is no misfiring at all when the engine is warm. > > So I will change the fuel filter and clean the MAF sensor. > I'll report back with the outcome.

Well i just changed the fuel filter and cleaned the MAF sensor. All i have to say is WOW. IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. The MAF sensor is almost spotless when i cleaned it so it was mainly the fuel filter. After i had let the car warm up, i romped on it and i was even able to spin the tires which i almost could never do before.

I want to thank everyone who replied with the great reponses. It saved me alot of money, since i only spent $15 (should have been 10 since I bought a tool that I didn?t need).

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!